Headlight-controlling means for automobiles or vehicles.



A; c. SCHAFFER.

HEADLIGHT CONTROLLING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES 0R VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5, 19!].

1,258,259. I Patentfi Mar. 5,191&

' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR G. SCHAEFEB, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

HEADLIGHT-CONTROLLING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES OB VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5,1918.

Application flied October 5, 1917. Serial No. 194,830.

havin such connection with an endwise shifta 1e rod employed in steering the front wheels of the vehicle that said bracket is actuated or turned laterally with and in the direction of the turning of the vehicle.

' One object of this invention is to have said bracket supported from a single ball seated in and projecting above a cup-slia ed member with which a plate to be secure to the frame or chassis, mud-guard, fender or other member of an automobile or vehicle is provided.

Another obj ect'is to insure adequate lubrication of said ball, and to exclude dirt, dust and water from the ball.

Another object is to provide improved means for transmitting motion to the hereinbefore mentioned bracket from the steering rod during the actuation of said rod.

Another ob ect is to provide simple and improved means for adjusting said bracket independently of said rod.

With these objects in view, and to attain any other object hereinafter appearing, thls invention consists in certain features of construction, and combinations and relative arrangement of the arts, hereinafter described in this speci cation, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a top plan of apparatus embodying my invention and shows a portion of the steering rod employed in steerm an automobile or vehicle and the operative connection between said rod and a-bracket carrying a headlight. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 33, Fig. 1, and only shows a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken alon the line 4-4, Fig. 1, lookmg forwar y. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken along the line 5-5, Fig. 2. Fig.6 is anenlar ed view of a portion of Fig. 2.-

Be errlng to said drawings, A Indicates a steerlng rod employed in steering the front wheels (not shown) of an automobile or vehicle. Steerin apparatus for automobiles or vehlcles and t e manner of applying said steering rod are too well known'm tne art to require description in detail in this specification. Suliice it to state that said rod is arran ed transversely of the vehicle, and

that t e front wheels (not shown) of the vehicle are connected with said rod in the usual manner whereby said wheels are turned to the right or to the left accordin as said rod is actuated endwise to the le t or to the right.

The rod A is shown provided with an upwardly projecting vertically arranged arm 10 which is mounted on and adjustable 'endwise of said rod and secured to said rod in the desired adjustment of said arm by a suitably applied set-screw 11. A short rod B extends through the' upper end of the arm 10 and is arranged substantially horizontally and at a right angle to the steering rod A and adjustable endwise. The rod B 1s secured to the arm 10 in the desired adjustment of said rod bya suitably appliedset-screw 12. It will be observed therefore that the rod B is arrangedto extend forwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle. Through the forward end'of the rod B extends a short rod C shown arranged horizontally and substantially parallel with the steering rod A and therefore arranged substantially atv a right angle to the rod B. The rod 0 is adjustable endwise and secured to the rod B in the desired aidjustment of the rod C by a suitably app ied set-screw 1-3. A vertically arranged post or rigid member D extends through one end of the supported as will hereinafter v -member or. vertically and secured "to said;

- "mannorto the frame or chassis, mud-guard,

providedwith a cup-shaped mem er .20 air-- 25 appear and shown arrangedforward of and in suitable proximity .to the st or slot-enmemberD and there ore the arm 16 projects or" 'xte s rearwardly. The slotember D extends above and be enga .m

and adjustable endwise of said slotot engagi'ng member in the desired f -adjustm nce the cellars u t l plled set-screws'19, and the arm-racing or v adjacent'ends of said collars are convex, as shown'in Figs. 2 and 4.

The supporting j means for the bracket preferably comprise a plate K which is shown arranged horizontally-and adapted to "be applied-and secured in any approved fender or other suitable member or portion of an automobile or vehicle. T be late K is ranged centrall of the plate, and a single ball L is seate' -in' and projects above said cup-shaped member. The bracket G is ro-- tatably mounted on the ball L and embraces and is adjustable on the upper portionof said ball. The bracket Ghas the edge 21 of its ball-enga g ortion arrangedsubstantially' radial y re ative to said ball and spaced from the aforesaid cup-shaped member in the central position of the bracket, Said bracket isfalso shown provided with a downwa d y pr jecting annular flange 22 1 surroundin the cup-shaped member of the plate and said cup-shaped member 1 V has an inwardly curved sloping top edge 23,

as shownin Fig. 6

By theeonstruction and relative arrangement of the flirts hereinbefore described it will be observed that the slot-engaging member D and its collars 17 and 18 are emeyed in actuating the arm '16 of the bracket E: upwardly or downwardly according as said collar-bearing member D is readjusted to elevate or lower it, and that when said bracket. is in its central position, as shown,

the head light carried by the',bracket is turned upwardly or downwardly according as said collar-bearing member is elevated or lowered. It will also be observed that the collars 17 and 18 and the side walls of the slot 15 constitute means for holding the bracket-arm 16 in the desired adjustment of the bracket; that the headlight carried by the bracket is turned laterally in the one direction or the other according as the bracketarm 16 is swung laterally in the one or the other direction; that said arm is swung laterally in the one direction or'the other according as the collar-bearing member D is actuated or readjusted laterally in the one or the other direction; that the collars 17 collar-bearing e bracket-arm 16 and is provided with two collars 17 and18 arranged at the bottom and. top respectively of said slot-engagmg' ited chan e' in t ing plate and having 'bracket to turnsaid headlight, and means aaeaaee and 18 on the bracket-'arm-aetuating i D constitute meansfor preventin movement of the bracket-arm vertically in cipendently of said arm-actuating member, an

member is actuated laterally that'said '70 in the'one direction or the other according as the steering rod'A -isshifte endwlee in the one or the other direction. It will be observed that through the medium of the endw se adjustability of the rods B and C.

the vertically-adjustable eollar-bearin member D is rendered adjustable forwar. y and rearwardly and laterally, and hence said 601- a lar-bearing member has the desired "adjusta "ability relative to the bracket G. In other of the rods words the endwise shiftabilit B and C. and the vertical'adj the collar-bearing usta'bilily of a 0 position 0 the supportup or down, forwardly or rearmember D fpermit a lim- I wardly, andlaterally in the one or the other I direction. Not unimportant also is the radial arrangement of the edge or shoulder 21 of the ball-embracing portion of the bracket K to afiordto the bracket a suitable range of oscillation on the ball. Another meritorious feature is the slope and arrangement of the top edge of the'eup-shape'd member 20 so as to face inwardly and thereby enlar e the lu bricant-carrying capacity of said cup-shaped member, and it will beobserved that the.

for holding said arm in the desired adjustment of said bracket on said ball.

2. In headli ht-controlling means,'a sup porting plate aving a cup-shaped member which is circular in plan, a ball seated in and projecting above said cup-shaped member, a bracket adapted to. be employed in carrying a headlight and embracing the upper portion of and mounted 'on said ball, said bracket being adjustable to turn said headlight laterally in the one or the other direction, and means for securing; said bracket in its desired adjustment on said all.

3. In headli lit-controlling means, a supporting plate aving a cup-shaped member, a ball seated in and projecting above said cup-shaped member, and a bracket adapted to be employed in carrying a headlight and embracing the upper portion of and mounted on said ball, said bracket being adjustable in the direction required to turn said headlight downwardly or upwardly, and means for securing said bracket in its desired adjustment on said ball.

4. In headlight-controlling means, a supporting plate having a cup-shaped member which is circular in plan, a ball seated in and projecting above said cup-shaped member, a bracket adapted to be employed 1n carrying a headlight and embracing the upper portion of and mounted on said ball, and means for actuating said bracket, said bracket having a downwardly projecting annular flange extending circumferentially of and surrounding the aforesaid cupsshaped member.

5. In headlight-controlling means, a supporting plate having a cup-shaped member which is circular in plan, a ball seated in and projecting above said cup-shaped member, a bracket adapted to be employed incarrying a headlight and embracing the upper portion of and adjustably mounted on said ball, and means for securing said" bracket in the desired adjustment, the edge of the ball-engaging portion of the bracket being arranged substantially radially relative to said ball and spaced from the aforesaid cup-shaped member in the central position of the bracket, and the bracket be ng provided with a downwardly projeotmg flange surrounding said cup-shaped member. 6. In headlight-controlling means, a supporting plate having a cup-shaped member,

a ball seated in and projecting above said cup-shaped member, a bracket adapted to be employed in carrying aheadlight and embracing the upper portion and mounted onsaid ball, and means for actuating said bracket, said bracket having a downwardly projecting annular flange extending around the aforesaid cup-shapedmember, and said cup-shaped member having an inwardly facing sloping top edge.

7 In headlight-controlling means, a suitably supported ball, a bracket adapted to be employed in carrying a headlight and embracin the upper portion of and mounted on sai ball and having an arm projecting in a substantially horizontal direction, which arm is provided with a slot extending vertically through. and longitudinally of the arm, and a suitably supported laterally adjustable rigid member engaging said slot.

8. In headlight-controlling means, a suitably supported ball, a bracket adapted to be employed in carrying a headlight and embracin the upper portion of and mounted on sai ball and having an arm projecting 9. In headlight-controlling means, a suitably supported ball, a bracket adapted to be employed in carrying a headlight and embracing the upper portion of and mounted on said ball and having a rearwardly projecting arm provided with a slot extending vertically through and longitudinally of the arm,'and a suitably supported. rigid member engaging said slot and extending above and below said arm and employed in actuating said arm and provided with means for preventing movement of said arm vertically independently of said arm-actuating memr. 10. In headlight-controlling means, a suitably supported ball, a bracket adapted to be employed in carrying a headlight and mounted on said ball and having an arm which projects in a substantially horizontal direction and is provided with a slot extending vertically through and longitudinally of the arm, a suitably supported rigid member extending vertically through said slot and above and below said arm, and two collars surrounding and carried by said slot-engaging member and arranged at the top and bottom respectively of said arm, the

of said arm, a suitably supported rigid member extending vertically through said, slot and above and below said arm, and two collars surrounding said slot-engaging member and arranged at the bottom and top respectively of said arm and adjustable endwise of said slot-engaging member, and means for securing said collars in the desired adjustment.

12. In headlight-controlling means, a suitably supported ball, a bracket adapted to be employed in carrying a headlight and embracing the upper portion of and mounted on said ball and having an armprojecting in a substantially horizontal direction, and a laterally adjustable, vertically adjustable and forwardly and rearwardly adjustable member for actuating said arm laterally.

13. In headlight-controlling means, the

combination, with a steering rod, of a suitably supported ball, a bracket rotatably mounted on said ball and adapted to be employed' in carrying a headlight, and'such a connection between said bracket and the aforesaid rod that said bracket is turned laterally on said ball in the one direction or the'other according as said rod is actuated endwise in the one'or the other direction.

14. In headlight-controlling means, a substantially horizontally arrangedsteering rod having an upwardly projecting arm, an endwise adjustable rod extending forwardly and rearwardly *hrough the upper end of said arm a d arranged substantially horizontally an at a right angle'to said steermg rod, means for securingthe second-mentioned rod to said arm in thedesired adjustment of said second-mentioned rod, a rod extending through one end of the second-mentioned rod and being substantially parallel with the steering rod and adjustable endwise, means for securing the third-mentioned rod to the second-mentioned rod in the desired adjustment of the third-mentioned rod, a suitably supported ball arranged above the aforesaid steering rod, a bracket rotatably mounted on said ball and adapted to be employed in carrying a headlight, and such a connection between said bracket and the third-mentioned rod that said bracket headlight laterally, a laterally adjustable,

vertically adjustable and forwardly and rearwardly adjustable. member capable of actuation to efiect said movement of said bracket, and such a connection between said adjustable bracket-moving member and the aforesaid rod that said actuation of said adj ustable bracket-actuating member is efiected during the required actuation of said rod.-.

16. In headlightecontrolling means, a steering rod, a rotatably mounted bracket adapted to be employed in carrying a headlight and having an arm which projects in a substantially horizontal direction and is provided with a slot extending vertically through and longitudinally of the arm, and i a member engaging said slot and employed in actuating said arm laterally and adjustable independently of the aforesaid rod, and such a connection between said slot-engag ing member and the aforesaid rod that said slot-actuating member is actuated laterally in the. one direction'or the other according as the said rod-is actuated in the one or the. other direction.

In testimony whereof, I sign .the foregoing specificat1on,in the presence oi two witnesses. Y

ARTHUR o. SCHAFFER. Witnesses i I CASPER J Q Do EMIL W 

